Chapter 69 Jiang Qiyu Turns into a Zombie

Shi Chao pointed at the piles of steel bars and scaffolding stacked not far away, a cunning smile curving the corners of his mouth. "We can make use of the materials right here and prepare a 'surprise' for those zombies to taste."

Jiang Qiyue raised an eyebrow, instantly grasping his meaning. When it came to stirring up trouble, Shi Chao was truly an expert. Thus, the group split up to take action. Zhang Qiang, Wang Yu, and Zhao Hu were responsible for gathering the steel bars and wire from the construction site; Jiang Fengmian was tasked with setting up the detonating cords and explosives; Shi Chao used his "thousand faces" ability to slip into the horde of zombies and scout the situation; while Jiang Qiyue and Lu Yao guarded the rear just in case.

As night fell, the zombies gathered outside the school in increasing numbers, roaring and clawing at the laboratory doors as if some supreme delicacy within were luring them. Disguised as a stray zombie, Shi Chao mingled with the horde and silently thrust a steel bar connected to explosives into the laboratory's power system.

With everything ready, Jiang Qiyue gave the order, and Jiang Fengmian pressed the detonator.

"Boom!"

With a deafening blast, flames shot into the sky, the laboratory's power system instantly paralyzed, and the heavy doors blown wide open. Immediately following, the explosives pre-planted around the construction site detonated in succession, countless steel bars and wires shooting outward like scattered heavenly flowers, turning the caught-off-guard zombies into hedgehogs.

"Charge!" At Jiang Qiyue's command, the group rushed into the laboratory like arrows released from a bowstring.

The interior of the laboratory was pitch black, the air thick with the pungent odor of chemical agents. Jiang Qiyue switched on her flashlight and began sweeping the floors level by level. The corridors were littered with various experimental equipment and documents; some doors were locked, while others stood wide open and empty.

"Bang!"

A single gunshot shattered the silence of the laboratory. Lu Yao swiftly stepped in front of Jiang Qiyue, scanning their surroundings with vigilance.

"It's fine, just a stray zombie." Jiang Qiyue calmly walked around Lu Yao and continued forward.

Suddenly, a dark figure lunged from a corner, heading straight for Jiang Qiyue's face. With lightning-fast reflexes, Lu Yao pulled Jiang Qiyue behind him while delivering a punch that sent the shadow flying.

The dark figure crashed heavily to the ground, letting out a groan of pain. By the beam of the flashlight, Jiang Qiyue saw the shadow clearly—it was a researcher in a lab coat, except his face was already covered in corpse spots and his eyeballs had turned a murky white.

"Careful, this zombie seems mutated; both its speed and strength exceed those of ordinary zombies," Lu Yao warned.

Jiang Qiyue nodded, drew a dagger from her waist, and cautiously approached the zombie. The zombie struggled to stand, but Lu Yao pressed a foot firmly onto its chest, pinning it to the ground.

Crouching down, Jiang Qiyue observed the zombie closely. Suddenly, she noticed an ID badge hanging from its neck, bearing the name "Professor Li."

"Professor Li? Could he be the expert researching the zombie virus?" Her heart stirred, and she quickly removed the badge to examine it closer.

At that moment, a cry of alarm echoed from the other end of the corridor.

"Help! Zombies!"

Jiang Qiyue and Lu Yao exchanged glances and sprinted toward the source of the sound.

A man was clutching a child, surrounded and besieged by a pack of zombies. Terror was etched across the man's face, and his gun was completely out of ammunition.

"Daddy! I'm scared!" The child cried out, holding onto the man tightly.

The terrifying sight of the father and child struck Jiang Qiyue's heart like a sharp blade, awakening memories of her own tragic childhood and instantly submerging her in a wave of sorrow.

Taking a deep breath, she forced back the tears in her eyes as a fierce surge of protectiveness welled up within her. Without a moment's hesitation, her legs coiled like springs and she leaped forward, using all her strength to shove the man toward safety.

Driven by momentum, the man stumbled a few steps, nearly falling to the ground.

Simultaneously, Jiang Qiyue spun around, using her slender frame to shield the child like an indestructible fortress.

With an unwavering gaze and an absolute tone, she roared, "Run!" The man was stunned at first, scarcely believing anyone would risk their life to save them at a time like this.

Recovering quickly, he scooped up the child and fled haphazardly toward the end of the corridor, not even daring to look back. The moment he left, a zombie lunged straight at Jiang Qiyue, its sharp claws raking deep bloody gasps across her arm.

"Ah!" Jiang Qiyue gasped in pain, dropping her dagger to the floor.

Seeing Jiang Qiyue injured, Lu Yao's eyes turned blood red. Letting out a beast-like roar, he lunged forward, grabbed the zombie by the neck, and snapped its head clean off.

"How dare you hurt her?!" Lu Yao's voice was hoarse and low, boiling with frantic rage.

The surrounding zombies rushed him in a swarm. Unfearing, Lu Yao fought like a mad beast, tearing zombies apart with his bare hands, kicking and punching until the creatures around him were shredded into pieces.

Yet, the number of zombies was simply too overwhelming; Lu Yao began to tire.

"Lu Yao, go!" Enduring the pain, Jiang Qiyue picked up her fallen dagger, trying to help.

Lu Yao grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him. "We're retreating!"

The others covered the two as they fought their way back, eventually retreating into a small room and quickly locking the door behind them.

Silence descended upon the room, broken only by Jiang Qiyue's hurried breaths and Lu Yao's heavy pants.

Gazing at the gruesome wounds on her arm, a trace of despair crept into Jiang Qiyue's heart. The zombie virus had already entered her bloodstream; soon, she would transform into a mindless corpse just like those monsters.

"I'm sorry..." Her voice trembled for the very first time.

Lu Yao pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if trying to merge her into his very body.

The atmosphere in the room was oppressive and heavy. The other survivors looked at Jiang Qiyue with pity, as though gazing at a dead person. Some even began to sob quietly, suggesting they put Jiang Qiyue out of her misery with a bullet.

Yet Jiang Qiyue remained remarkably calm. Having already died once before, she felt little fear of death.

The oppressive atmosphere hung heavy; the others looked at Jiang Qiyue with a mix of pity and terror. They knew anyone scratched by a zombie would soon turn into one of those flesh-eating monsters.

A young girl covered her mouth, fighting back tears. Remembering Jiang Qiyue's bravery and decisiveness along the journey, her heart filled with sorrow and reluctance.

A man tremblingly raised his gun, aiming the barrel at Jiang Qiyue's forehead. His eyes reflected fear and hesitation, but he knew this was the best choice. A quick end was better than a slow torture; rather than letting her turn into a zombie, it was better to grant her a dignified death.

"I'm sorry..." the man choked out, his finger slowly tightening on the trigger.

Jiang Qiyue's gaze remained serene, even tinged with a hint of liberation. "It's fine," she said softly. "I've already died once; there's nothing to be afraid of." She swept her gaze over the group, a faint smile touching her lips. "I've been very happy during these days."

"After my death, my base will be transferred directly to my sister through the system," Jiang Qiyue whispered, her eyes filled with steadfast resolve. "She will protect this place for me. As for you..." She paused, looking at Lu Yao and the other survivors with calm and entrusted eyes. "You must live on well, and especially treat the children kindly."

Yet Jiang Qiyue only smiled wearily, her eye rims turning slightly red before she suppressed the emotion. She grasped Lu Yao's hand, passing on her final warmth. "Be good..."

The others were stunned. They had not expected Jiang Qiyue to remain so calm at this life-or-death juncture.

Lu Yao's eyes grew moist. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.

At the very end of her life, Jiang Qiyue felt an unprecedented peace and happiness.

Closing her eyes, a faint smile lingered on her lips.

Jiang Qiyue's hand trembled slightly as she aimed the gun at her own heart. She glanced at Lu Yao and the survivors around the room, her gaze as calm as still water, as if she had already accepted the irreversible outcome.

Just as she was about to pull the trigger, a tremendous force snatched the gun from her grasp. With blinding speed, Lu Yao batted the weapon away, sending it clattering harshly against the floorboards.

Jiang Qiyue froze, looking up at him in utter bewilderment.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Lu Yao's voice was practically a roar, laced with disbelief and a frantic, out-of-control rage. Bloodshot veins webbed his eyes, and his emotions churned so violently he looked on the verge of shattering. "Who gave you permission to do this?! Do you think dying solves anything?!"

His face was flushed with anger, his breathing ragged as he completely lost his composure. But shadowing that rage was a deep-seated terror; his hands gripped her shoulders with a force that caused a dull ache. "How can you just give up like this?! This isn't who you are!"

Jiang Qiyue lowered her gaze.

Lu Yao gripped her shoulders tighter, forcing her to look straight into his eyes. "I'm telling you right now, I will never allow you to do this!"

His voice shook slightly from agitation, the rims of his eyes flushed with wet red.

"I..." Jiang Qiyue was momentarily lost for words. The emotions that had settled into calm were suddenly torn to shreds by his turbulent state.

Lowering his head, Lu Yao's voice dropped into a heavy, raspy tone. "You might not care about your own life, but I do." His hands remained clamped onto her, refusing to let go as if terrified she might vanish the next second. "If you die, what am I supposed to do?"

Dead silence filled the room. Lu Yao's words landed like heavy hammer blows, suffocating everyone present.

Staring blankly at him, Jiang Qiyue felt a sharp ache in her chest. The numb, suppressed shell around her heart was shattered by his every word, exposing the deep-seated vulnerability and longing hidden underneath.